My first introduction to Chinese New Year was at the Spring Festival in 2009. I had recently moved to Beijing, and I naively asked people where to go to see the fireworks. (It’s okay if you laugh at this!). I quickly found out that every road was full of people and fireworks for hours each night of the holiday season. That first year, I went out on the street to enjoy the festivities. It was an unforgettable experience, being surrounded by explosions and people celebrating in the sounds and lights.

I also learned that visiting family is an important tradition during this time. For a foreigner in Beijing, that meant a nearly empty city for two weeks as so many people traveled to their hometowns. My friends lined up at the train station hours before dawn to purchase tickets home. They ended up with tickets for standing on the trains, as the seats sold out almost immediately. They were not only willing but eager to stand on a train for several hours to join their families. That’s how important the annual reunion was to them.

This year in Penang, the family reunions will be even sweeter. Many families have not been able to celebrate together for the last three years due to COVID travel restrictions. The time spent with extended family is precious and many relationships will be rekindled.

The practice of gathering the extended family for a reunion annually is one practiced in many cultures. Setting aside specific time to reconnect with those living far apart is vital for all of us. So whether you have family nearby this Chinese New Year or not, it’s a great time to reconnect with family members from whom you may have drifted apart. I encourage everyone to take some time this holiday to reconnect with your loved ones.

No school Monday and Tuesday next week in observance of Chinese New Year 2023.

Middle School Retreat ・ 중학생 수련회 ・ 中学部退修会

On Thursday, January 26, the entire middle school will go to Bertam Waterpark for our Middle School Retreat. We look forward to bonding and having fun on this trip. The Bertam Resort & Waterpark is about an hour away and is a new resort on the mainland. This is an opportunity for students to have a great time as well as build stronger relationships with one another. We will depart from school at 9 a.m. and return at 4 p.m.

We are thankful that our Dalat community loves to share Dalat's beauty with their family and friends. However, please remember that all non-parent guests need to wear visitor passes, which are issued at security. 

As a reminder, while parents are welcome on campus, please limit interactions with your children to before and after school. All tours during the school day should be arranged through Tammi Yost in the Admissions Office. If your friends would like to see our campus, please email admissions@dalat.org. 

Dalat PTO Welcomes New Parents! ・ 새 학부모님들을 환영합니다! ・ PTO新生家长早餐会

Dalat PTO would like to extend a big warm welcome to all new parents this semester. It was a pleasure to meet many of you at the New Parent Breakfast.

PTO provides the opportunity to connect with other parents and participate in activities and fundraisers to help make a difference in our school community.

Join Us For Moms in Prayer ・ 어머니 기도회에 참석해주세요 ・ 参加妈妈们祷告会

We will gather for prayer twice a month from 8:30-9:30 a.m. (following school drop-off) in the Student Center. All Dalat moms are welcome!

Besides meeting in person, our WhatsApp chat is always active for requests, prayer, and encouragement. You’re welcome to join even if you cannot make it to all the meetings. Text Vera +60 17 506-4800 or Ellsy +60 12 430-0699 to get in touch!

Winter - Spring 2023 Meeting Dates:
January 18 & 25, February 8 & 22, March 8 & 15, April 12 & 26, May 10 & 24

Each week, Dalat seniors (Grade 12) write journalistic articles about current events or individuals within the Dalat community and publish them on a blog called The Senior Scribble.

This week’s articles are from Michael Hsu (“Scheduling Complexities!”), Joycelyn Fung (“Chicken Rice, That’s Our Senior Advice”), and Jasmine Hassan (“The Final Semester: A Senior’s Perspective”).

Update Powerschool ・ 파워스쿨 업데이트 ・ 更新Powerschool
At the start of this new semester, we ask all parents to do a couple of things in PowerSchool:

1. Update changes to your address, email, or phone number using the Demographic Update page. Updating your information here will update it for your student’s teachers, the front office, and for all of your Dalat communications.

2. Update your students' medical information using the Medical Update page. Make sure that your emergency contacts are up-to-date, along with making any updates to your student’s medical information (i.e., new medications, allergies, etc.). 

Check Out the New Dalat Merch Shop
새로운 학생 센터 Merch shop에 들러보세요 ・ 来逛逛新学生中心内的商店

Stop by the new Roost merch shop in the Student Center to purchase Dalat-branded items such as sports sack-pacs, coffee tumblers, t-shirts, hoodies, lanyards, pens, backpacks, and more. Note: Items special-ordered from Athletics in December will be delivered to your students in the coming weeks as products arrive.  

Substitute Teachers Needed ・ 대체 교사님을 모십니다 ・ 需要代课老师

When teachers are absent, Dalat parents are a key resource to fill in for them. If you enjoy working with children or teenagers and want to make a difference in the Dalat school community, you might enjoy this wonderful opportunity to serve. Teachers provide all of the classroom plans for substitute teachers. You can help for the whole day, a few days, or even just a single class period. If you are interested, please email Monica Mohan to find out more and fill out our substitute teacher application. No teaching experience is needed! Training will be provided.

Need New School Uniforms? ・ 새 교복이 필요하신가요? ・ 需要新校服吗？

The Dalat Uniform Store is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 3-4 p.m. by appointment. Click here to make your appointment. If you already know which size(s) you want, click here to order instead.

January 23 - 24
Chinese New Year
NO SCHOOL

January 26
Middle School Retreat

January 27 - 28
ISKL Sports Trip

February 2 - 4
Jr. Island Shootout (JV Basketball)

February 10-11
Middle School Island Shootout
(MS Basketball)

February 14 - 18
ACSC Basketball Tournament

February 16 - 18
Malaysia Honor Band
Raffles American School, Johor

February 20
NO SCHOOL - Dalat Holiday

Check the School Calendar for updates
Legend: G = Grade | P = Preschool | ES = Elementary School | MS = Middle School | HS = High School

January 25 - 27

Each school lunch includes a salad bar, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich bar, a flavored drink, cold water, and dessert (fruits or sweets).

Monday
NO SCHOOL

Tuesday
NO SCHOOL

Wednesday
Caribbean Chicken & Creamed Potatoes, Steamed Vegetables with Butter
Japanese Fried Chicken with Rice

Thursday
Pork Chops & Gravy, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans with Garlic Butter
Chinese Style Egg & Chicken Fried Rice

Friday
Roasted Chicken with Soy Sauce, Sweet & Sour Pork, and White Rice
Stir Fry Mixed Vegetables, Lotus Leaf Fried Rice